The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, has directed the Senate Committee on Defense and Security to launch an investigation into allegations of widespread bribery and the excessive number of security checkpoints across Liberia.
The decision follows concerns raised on the Senate floor by Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely, who presented the issue while delivering an update on conditions in his county during the third sitting of the 55th Legislature on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
According to Senator Nimely, numerous checkpoints operating across the country are unnecessary and have reportedly become sites of abuse by some members of the joint security forces. He alleged that motorists and ordinary citizens are frequently harassed and subjected to demands for bribes, restricting their freedom of movement and undermining public trust in law enforcement institutions.
In response to the concerns, Senate Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence announced that the Legislature would take direct action by mandating the Committee on Defense and Security to thoroughly examine the matter. The committee has been instructed to conduct its investigation and submit a comprehensive report to the Senate within one week.
The issue of the unchecked proliferation of security checkpoints and alleged bribery has long been a source of public frustration, with citizens across the country complaining of routine extortion, delays, and harassment along major roads.
Lawmakers say the Senate’s intervention is intended to address these longstanding grievances, restore discipline within the security sector, and safeguard citizens’ constitutional right to free movement throughout the country.
